Tell us a little about yourself. You can include your personal background, family, outside interests that are important to who you are as a person and a candidate.
Having lived in Lexington for over 20 years, l had the privilege of volunteering in a variety of roles within the Town of Lexington school system while my three children received an excellent education from expert, supportive and kind teachers and staff. A nurse for over 25 years working in psychiatric/addictions, community health, and teaching at MassBay Community College, MA College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, and Howard University, I am currently a case manager in the ER at Newton Wellesley Hospital. I have also been involved in an ongoing interest/study of art and design, particularly Duany-Plater’s new urbanism, that is devoted to developing healthy social connections, decreased congestion, and ongoing positive interactions utilizing a fiscally conservative approach.
Why are you running for Town Meeting?
The crossroads for change is upon Lexington! It is a particularly exciting time for all with the new Lexington High School and housing initiatives. However, it is no longer “business as usual” with the current federal government reset that ensures minimally a more restrained state and town fiscal outlook. As a Town Meeting Member for the past four years, I am eager to continue citizen-directed creative town development within this new challenging environment. Still, in the recent past, several decision making dynamics led to questionable outcomes i.e., many citizen comments still abound regarding the new “oversized” police station, the Ellen Stone building that has remained vacant on Mass Ave with no definitive plan for almost 20 years despite the March 2023 design funding of $400,000, the $4 million renovation of the Cary Library’s lower level that lacked a true, substantial purpose. Today Lexington requires intensive, energetic budgetary revamping, truly delineating between Town “wants” and “needs.”
How has your past experience — whether in your professional life, elected office, or as a community leader — prepared you for a role in Town Meeting?
The variety and scope of my experiences as a psychiatric nurse have heightened my awareness of specific community needs, impact of community change, diverse social and medical/health concerns, the importance of inclusion in all aspects of development, decision making, budgetary details, flexibility, cooperation, courage, critical thinking, and patience. In addition, a well-known theory that has provided a strong connection for both personal health care and government is the classic Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs pyramid–lower level needs must be met before moving on the higher levels (physiological/physical, safety, love and belonging, self-actualization) has repeatedly proved helpful in decision making in my roles as both nurse and TMM.
What is the most important issue in this election to you personally, and what ideas do you have about how to address this issue?
Both the MBTA housing initiatives and the proposed new Lexington High School are top priorities at this time. They will be thought provoking and invigorating, bringing tremendous changes to the Town. The new Bloom high school and some of the housing initiatives have been defined according to certain physical and safety concerns, but congestion issues, community inclusion concerns and enhancements might be improved upon. Duany/Plater’s new urban designs could be applied to all new buildings to ensure architecture that veers away from the current, mostly boring nondescript type buildings that have been constructed in areas of the town and state. Multiple social gathering places, inviting and comfortable, with adequate seating, flex spaces, attractive plantings, gardens, and exercise areas/pools etc. can promote physical, social and mental health.
Developing a new, likely-billion dollar high school should not focus on number of seats in a traditional classroom with a teacher lead that has been in style since the horse and buggy days. Innovative educational strategies can be developed such as cooperative education with businesses, merchants, government and health care agencies similar to what Northeastern University has done successfully for over 60 years. Perhaps it is time to begin this type of model for juniors and seniors, starting slowly and then accelerating if successful? Faculty, businesses, parents, students could develop a program for paid or volunteer jobs that tie into required course content, for example, how is the business structured, what is the financing, differences among private, government, for profit, nonprofit companies, communication styles, historical comparison of businesses over specific number of years, essays on personal working relationships, etc. Also, the types of required courses have also remained static for decades. This might be the time to question the need for all students to have same kind of requirements. Developing dynamic spaces instead of traditional classrooms could be pondered and possibly aid the multiple citizen concerns for adequate space and congestion. Hence, less traditional, more creative study is needed in the development of both the new high school and new residential areas that would add a positive, vibrant life change for all.
Of course, there will always be diverse opinions–as my father would say, “That’s what makes horse racing.” Always, with differences, there must be knowledge and understanding of each idea, with continued acceptance of the person, regardless of their opinions. Often it takes seeking out citizen’s concerns, listening, regular debate and patience to come to a mutual agreement. Assertiveness may be needed to express ideas without undue emotions, but aggressiveness or childishness, i.e. taking over another’s space, and treading on personal territory is never acceptable.
Renewed energy and leadership in TM are required for the exciting and exacting decisions that will affect the future of the Town of Lexington for many decades. TM standard operating procedures need to be questioned, reliance on prior town committee votes and builders’ concerns that often result in overwhelming TM support for a variety of funding must have regular challenges, requests, and some demands.
As there is no elected Town Manager, the buck has to stop somewhere and it should be TM, where I hope to continue to gather and challenge data and respond to citizens’ requests and concerns. If more study, more meetings, or more debate needs to occur, then so be it. “Glorious Morning in America for Lexington,” can raised and magnified for this era of change to ensure increased fiscal responsibility with a heightened social, diverse, healthy, and accepting environment.